Body Found of RI Teen off Conimicut Point

The Coast Guard said the body of a 16-year-old boy has been found just off Conimicut Point in Warwick. The boy has been identified as Javon Jimenez of Providence. He went missing Sunday evening after being swept off a sandbar, another boy was swept away but he was able to swim away and be rescued.

The Coast Guard said it ran a continuous search since around 5:00pm Sunday, when reports came in that a boy went missing in the waters off Conimicut Point in Warwick. Numerous fire departments, police departments, harbor masters and others cruised the waters in boats, walked the shore, and searched overhead in a helicopter combing 152 square miles.

Ultimately, it was divers from the Warwick Police Department who found the body underwater at about 2:00pm Monday. The K-9 Zeus unit with the Rhode Island State Police uses dogs trained to find bodies in water. The Warwick Fire Department said the teen’s body was found in eight feet of water.

Jimenez’s family was at the scene as crews searched for him. Lt. Bryan Swintek said the Coast Guard is keeping the boy’s family in their thoughts.

“It’s always very somber. You’re glad that you found the person. But it’s always sad that you haven’t found him alive, especially when it’s a child,” said Swintek. “Many of the people who are responding have kids that age and obviously it makes them think of their own families.”

Jimenez’s body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office.

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